UPDATE: Bomb scare at ministry office

A 40-year-old Kelowna man has been arrested in connection with a bomb scare at the Ministry of Employment office on Dilworth Drive Wednesday afternoon.

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

RCMP Cst. Kris Clark says the man faces charges of Uttering Threats.

He has since been released and will appear in court to answer to the charge in February, 2013.

The ministry office and two adjacent businesses, Lordco and XS Cargo were evacuated while RCMP assessed the perceived bomb threat.

Dilworth Drive was also blocked off for about 20 minutes.

Clark says police received a report of a perceived bomb threat about 1:20 Wednesday afternoon.

The threat was called into the ministry office by a known subject.

"The man allegedly uttered a threat that led the ministry official to believe that the building and its occupants were in danger," says Clark.

"Police evacuated the building as well as those adjacent and blocked off a stretch of Dilworth Drive briefly. A police service dog, trained in the detection of explosives was used to clear the building. Nothing suspicious was located."

Clark says police take all complaints of bombs seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation.